WarSclerotic

The European Union is advancing an offer according to which Iran would be allowed to continue its uranium enrichment if it allowed tight UN supervision, sources told Haaretz on Wednesday.

	Technicians measuring parts of Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant in this undated photo.
	Photo by: AP

The issue was reportedly discussed during the recent P5+1 talks concerning Iran’s contentious nuclear program, which concluded earlier this week in Geneva.

According to the offer, Tehran would be able to continue enriching uranium if it agreed to close supervision by the International Atomic Energy Agency supervisors, which would include surprise checkups.

At the two-day talks, the powers sought to put concerted pressure on Iran to agree to discuss its nuclear work, which the West suspects is aimed at making bombs.

Sources speaking with Haaretz Wednesday indicated that the offer would be discussed in further detail in the next round of talks, which is scheduled to take place in Istanbul at the beginning of next year.

The initiative, which had been discussed in general terms in past nuclear talks, is led by High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton during the recent two-day round of talks.

Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Ashton failed to mention the planned offer, yet indicated that the EU recognized Iran’s rights, but that it insisted that Tehran fulfill its obligations.

The EU’s Foreign Minister added that practical ideas and methods of reaching a mutual solution to the nuclear issue would be discussed in Istanbul.

According to sources speaking with Haaretz, the U.S. administration wasn’t’  “thrilled” that the EU and Ashton situated themselves at the forefront of the global effort to tackle Iran’s nuclear program.

However, the sources claimed, the United States was willing to let the EU take a central role in order to make Iran give up its nuclear ambitions.

The Geneva round of talks did not do much to change the pessimism as to the possibility of any deal with Iran, as most UN diplomats estimating that Iran was only trying to buy more time.

Earlier this week, Iran’s chief negotiator to nuclear talks said that Tehran would not consider relenting on its right for uranium enrichment.

“I am announcing openly and clearly that Iran will not discuss a uranium enrichment halt in the next meeting in Istanbul with major powers,” Saeed Jalili told a news conference after the talks.

Underlining how far apart the two sides remain, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said negotiations with the West could work if sanctions imposed on Iran over its nuclear activities were scrapped — a likely non-starter for major powers.